UMass Boston
100 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125-3393
617-287-5000
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Junior Achievement
The JA Academy is an after school mentoring program for high school students developed and offered by Junior Achievement of Eastern Massachusetts and hosted at area colleges and universities. UMass Boston sponsors a Junior Achievement Leadership Academy each year by providing classroom space, a business mentor and student volunteers.
Through participation in the JA Academy, students are given an opportunity to take hold of their future, follow their dreams, and pursue success. Students explore the world of business through forming and managing their own company. Guided by a mentor team comprised of undergraduate and graduate students and business professionals, students address business ethics, teamwork, leadership skills, and goal setting while handling the day-to-day operations of their venture. In a 12-week curriculum, working together students develop and execute a business plan, sell stock to fund growth, apply for jobs in their company, create marketing strategies, drive production and sales, and build relationships that provide them with connections to the world of work. JA Academy Company Board meetings are held off site at area corporations to further expose students to business in the corporate setting.
Examples of products include selling baskets filled with special items for youth, candy-filled mugs, custom made T-shirts, jewelry in hand-painted boxes and boxer shorts. Products are either bought locally and repackaged or custom made. Inventory management and pricing are key decisions.
JA Students have opportunities to strive for both personal and company achievement through our competitive JA Academy Awards program, internships opportunities, and both local and national JA Scholarships.
To maximize the experience, JA invites guest speakers to talk specifically about marketing, sales, financing and other strategies to help their companies through their growth cycles. Speakers also share their background providing career and educational highlights to help youth understand various career paths.